Machine for printing mailing pieces from duplicating cards



H. R. FRANKLE EIAL 2,854,920. MACHINE FOR PRINTING MAILING PIECES FROMDUPLICATING CARDS Filed Nov. 12. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Harry Q. FranKlePerry 7- Crane ATTY H. R. FRANKLE ET AL 2,854,920 MACHINE FOR PRINTINGMAILING PIECES FROM DUPLICATING CARDS Oct. 7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 12, 1954 INVENTORS Harry FranK/E BY Perry T Crane W KM .Arr'x Oct. 7, 1958 H. R. FRANKLE ETAL 2,854,920

' MACHINE FOR PRINTING MAILING PIECES FROM DUPLICATING CARDS Filed Nov.12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORS- Ha rt fiapK/t BY Perry T CraneArrY United States Patent MACHINE FOR PRINTING MAILING PIECES FROMDUPLICATING CARDS Harry R. Frankle and Perry T. Crane, Des Moines, IowaApplication November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,422

Claims. (Cl. 101-52) This invention relates generally to printingmachines and in particular to a machine and method for printing namesand addresses on mailing cards, magazine certificates, envelopes and thelike. As used herein the term mailing piece shall include envelopes,cards, magazine certificates, letters and the like wherein the materialto be printed is in a generally sheet form.

In printing machines of this general type the duplicating cards carry onone side thereof an imprinted transferable carbon type. Theseduplicating cards are continuously introduced, in a predeterminedrelation, with corresponding mailing pieces, between a presser or printing cylinder and a rotatable platen unit, to provide for the transfer orprinting of the carbon type from the duplicating card onto the mailingpiece. By virtue of the transfer characteristic of the carbon type onthe duplicating cards, the printing of the mailing pieces is usuallyaccompanied by some smearing of this type as a result of its contactwith portions of the feed or the conveying mechanism for the duplicatingcards. Also, smearing of the printing on the mailing pieces results fromthe fact that the printing cylinder and the platen unit are operated atdiiferent peripheral speeds, so that the duplicating cards and mailingpieces are moved relative to each other as they pass together in aprinting operation between the cylinder and the platen unit. A furtherobjection in machines of this type is found in the fact that oncompletion of a printing operation difiiculty is encountered inefiiciently separating the duplicating cards from the mailing pieces.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improvedmachine and method for printing mailing piecesfrom duplicating cards.

A further object of this invention is to provide a printing machinewherein a duplicating card with a carbon transfer type on one side istaken from a stack, fed into a printing zone in a carbon transferrelation with a mailing piece, and then removed from the printing zone,with such one side of the card out of contact engagement with any of theconveying means for the duplicating cards, whereby to eliminate anysmearing of the carbon'transfer type.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine in which arotary platen unit is provided with a floating segmental member,yieldably biased to a neutral position therefor, and adapted for contactengagement with a co-acting presser or printing cylinder. The platensegment and cylinder are of the same diameter and operated at the samespeed, and on introduction of a duplieating card and mailing piecetherebetween the segmental platen member is oscillated or rockedrelative to the platen unit to maintain the cylinder and platen segmentat the same peripheral speed during a printing opera ation, whereby toeliminate any relative movement between a duplicating card and a mailingpiece during the printing operation.

, Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine whereina duplicating card and a corresponding mailing piece are introducedbetween a printing cylinder and an associated platen unit in atransversely offset relation so that a side portion of the mailing pieceextends laterally outwardly from the adjacent side portion.

of the duplicating card. As the card and mailing piece pass outwardlyfrom between the cylinder and platen unit, the laterally extended sideportion of the mailing piece is engaged by a guiding and deflectingmember whereby to separate the mailing piece from the duplicating cardand to guide the mailing piece onto a discharge conveyor therefor.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a machine forprinting a mailing piece from a carbon transfer type duplicating cardwhich is of a simple construction, fast in operation, and capable ofperforming an etlicient printing operation without smudging or smearingof the carbon on the mailing piece.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for printing on a mailingpiece from a duplicating card, embodying the improved printing mechanismand method of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the printingcylinder and platen unit assembly of this invention, with certain partsbeing broken away to more clearly illustrate its construction;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, of the printing cylinder and platenunit assembly in Fig. 2 showing a deflecting member for separating amailing piece from a duplieating card after a printing operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 inFig. 3, showing the arrangement of a mailing piece and a duplicatingcard relative to each other and to the separating or deflecting memberduring a printing operation;

Fig. 5 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the power transmissionsystem for the machine of this invention with the operating elementsshown in a' spaced apart relation to more clearly illustrate the drivingmeans therefor; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic showings of the printing cylinder andplaten unit showing changed positions therefor in a complete cycle ofoperation.

With reference to the drawings there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a printingmachine of this invention including a main frame 15 of a generallyrectangular shape having at one end 16 a mechanism 17 for picking upmailing pieces 18 from a holder 19. The mailing pieces 18 are fed, fromthe pick-up mechanism 17, in an end to end relation into a conveyor 21for movement between the lower side 20 of a presser or printing cylinder22 and a cooperating platen unit 23 (Fig. 2), which are locatedsubstantially intermediate the ends of the machine frame 15.

Mounted on the opposite end 24 of the machine frame 15 (Fig. 1) is amechanism 26 for picking up duplicating cards 27 from a duplicating cardholder 28 for transfer onto a conveyor 29, in an end to end relation,which conveys the duplicating cards 27 to the upper side 25 of theprinting cylinder 22. A duplicating card 27 is Patented Oct. 7, 1958'unit 23 in contact or printing engagement thus constitutes the effectivezone of a printing operation.

On completion of a printing operation, the mailing pieces are separatedfrom the duplicating cards 27, with the mailing pieces 18 beingtransferred to a conveyor 31 for removal to a suitable receivingreceptacle (not shown) provided on the frame 15. In turn the separatedduplicating cards 27 are transferred from the cylinder 22 to a conveyor32 for movement to a receiving receptacle (not shown) on the frame 15.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the printing cylinder 22 is of a hollowconstruction and has at one end a hub 38 which is rotatably supported ona stationary tubular shaft 33. The other end 34 of the cylinder 22 isprovided with a shaft 36 rotatably carried in a suitable bearing (notshown).

The hub 30 is formed with a circular air inlet 37 (Fig. 2) adapted forregistration with an air inlet 38 formed in the tubular shaft 33 suchthat registration of the inlets 37 and 38 is effected once during eachrevolution of the printing cylinder 22. The tubular shaft 33 is suitablyconnected with an exhaust or vacuum pump 39, indicated in Fig. 5, whichis operated by a motor 41.

Formed in the periphery of the printing cylinder 22 (Fig. is an airinlet 42 of a substantially rectangular shape and located on thecylinder 22 so as to be in the path of movement of the duplicating cards27 as these cards leave the conveyor 29.

It is seen, therefore, that during the period of rotation of thecylinder 22, providing for the air inlets 37 and 38 being out ofregistration, air is drawn into the cylinder 22 at the inlet 42 thereofwhereby to provide a suction effect at the cylinder inlet 42. Thissuction action at the cylinder inlet 42 is relieved during those timeswhen the inlets 37 and 38, for the cylinder hub 30 and shaft 33,respectively, are in registration with each other.

The platen unit 23 (Figs. 2 and 4) is comprised of a disc member 43mounted on a shaft 44 for rotation with such shaft. A segmental platenmember 46 is carried at the free end of an arm 47 which is rotatablymounted on the shaft 44 at a position adjacent to the disc 43. The areof curvature of the segment 46 is greater than the are or circle of thedisc 43, and is generated with a radius equal to the radius of theprinting cylinder 22. It is seen, therefore, that the platen segment 46is capable of being oscillated or rocked about the shaft 44 and relativeto the disc 43, so as to be in what might be termed a floating relationrelative to the disc 43.

As best appears in Fig. 2 the platen segment 46 is biased toward aneutral or centered position, relative to the disc 43, by the provisionof a pair of coil springs 48 having one of their ends secured to acommon pin 49 attached to and extended laterally from the segment 46,and the opposite ends thereof secured to laterally extended pins 51carried in an angularly spaced relation on one side of the disc 43. Anyoscillating or rocking movement of the platen segment 46, relative tothe disc 43, is thus resisted by one or the other of the coil springs 48which, acting together, tend to maintain the platen segment or member ina neutral position against the action of any force tending to move thesegment member 46 from such neutral position.

As previously mentioned the outer peripheral surface of the platenmember 46 is generated with a radius equal to the radius of the outerperiphery of the cylinder 22. Likewise the cylinder 22 and the platenunit 23 are rotated at the same rate so as to maintain the peripheralspeeds of the cylinder 22 and the platen member 46 the same, it beingunderstood that the rotation of the platen member 46 is effected throughthe coil springs 48.

Thus, on the introduction of a mailing piece 18 and a duplicating card27 between the cylinder lower side 20 and the platen member 46 thetendency of adjacent faces of a card 27 and mailing piece 18 to be movedat different rates of speed by virtue of the different thicknessesthereof is compensated for by the oscillating action of the platenmember 46. In other words, the speed of travel of the outer face of thecard 27 depends on the thickness thereof, which in effect increases theradius of the cylinder 22. Likewise, the speed of the side to be printedon of a mailing piece 18 is dependent on the thickness of the piece 16.Since the cylinder 22 and platen member 46 have equal radii and aredriven at the same rates of speed it will be appreciated that the actionof the platen member 46 need be great enough to compensate for onlyslight variations in the relative speeds of the adjacent faces of a card27 and a mailing piece 18 on the cylinder 22 and platen member 46,respectively with the oscillating or slipping action of the platenmember in opposite d1- rections being dependent on the frictionalpressure effected by a mailing piece 18 and card 27 as they pass betweenthe lower side 20 of the cylinder 22 and the platen member 46. By virtueof this compensating action of the platen member 46 relative slippingmovement between a mailing piece 18 and a duplicating card 27 iseliminated during a printing operation to in turn eliminate any smearingin the carbon transfer from a duplicating card to a mailing piece.

A mailing piece 18, when discharged from the conveyor 21, is picked upbetween a pair of driven rolls 52 and 53 (Figs. 2 and 7) for traveltherethrough at a rate equal to the peripheral speed of the cylinder 22.From the rollers 52 and 53 a mailing piece 18 is directed between thelower side 20 of the cylinder 22 and the platen unit 23, so as to be atsuch lower side 20 when the platen segment or member 46 is opposite thecylinder 22. This timed or synchronized passage of the mailing piece 18is accomplished by the provision of a pivoted trip gate 54, located atthe discharge end of the conveyor 21. When the trip gate 54 is closed, amailing piece is retained thereagainst, and in sliding engagamentrelative to the conveyor 21. On pivoted movement of the gate in adirection away from the discharge end of the conveyor 21, the mailingcard is released for travel between the rollers 52 and 53, with thisrelease action being timed in response to the rotation of the cylinder22, as will be later described.

A duplicating card 27 (Fig. 6) on being discharged from its associatedconveyor 29, has the forward or leading end thereof drawn against theperipheral surface of the printing cylinder 22 by the suction action atthe cylinder air inlet 42. As a result of this retention a duplicatingcard 27 is rotatable with the cylinder 22 at the same rate of speed asthe cylinder 22.

During its rotational movement with the cylinder 22, a duplicating card27 is maintained against the cylinder by the provision of a retainingmember 56 (Figs. 3 and 6) having one end 57 extended within thedischarge end of the conveyor 29 at a position above a duplicating card27 carried on such conveyor. In other words, the duplicating card 27passes beneath the retaining member 56. From its end 57 the retainingmember is extended in a concentrically spaced relation about thecylinder 22 from its upper side 25, and about its lower side 20fort'ermination of its opposite end 58, within, and above the receivingend of the conveyor 32. As a' result, a duplicating card 27, from thedischarge end of the conveyor 29, to the receiving end of the conveyor32 is moved between the periphery ofthe cylinder'22 and the retainingmember 56. p

The discharge of a duplicating card 27 from the conveyor 29 iscontrolled by the action of a pivoted trip gate 59 (Fig. 6) extendedacross the discharge end of the conveyor 29, and similarly to the actionof the trip gate 54 for a mailing piece 18. When the trip gate 59 isclosed a duplicating card 27 is held thereagainst in sliding engagementwith the conveyor 29. On pivoted movement of the trip gate 59, away fromthe discharge end of the conveyor 29 to an open position, a duplicatingcard 27 is released at substantially the same time that the cylinder airinlet 42 is at the upper side 25 of the cylinder 22, so as to be pickedup by the cylinder for rotation therewith. The opening and closingmovement of the trip gate 59 is operated in response to, and in a timedrelation, with the rotational speed of the cylinder 22, as will laterappear.

As shown in Fig. 2 the retaining member 56 for a duplicating card 27 isin contact engagement with a card 27 over a side portion 61 thereof freeof any carbon transfer type, so that the type side portion 62 is free ofany contact with the retaining member 56. In this same connection it isto be noted that a duplicating card 27 has the unprinted side thereofresting on the conveyor 29, so that when a card 27 is in a held positionby the trip gate 59, the movement of the conveyor 29 relative to thecard 27, is without any action on the carbon type carried on the cardside portion 62.

Referring to Fig. 4, a duplicating card 27 and a corre sponding mailingpiece 18 are introduced into the printing zone between the lower side 20of the cylinder 22 and the platen member 46 in a transversely offsetrelation such that the side portion 61 of the duplicating card 27projects inwardly toward the cylinder end 34 away from the correspondingside portion 63 of a mailing piece 18, and the side portion 64 of themailing piece 18 extends laterally outwardly from the carbon impressedside portion 62 of a duplicating card 27. Stated another way, in passingthrough the printing zone only the side portions 63 and 62 of a mailingpiece 18 and duplicating card 27, respectively, are in a superposedrelation.

Positioned between the lower side 20 of the cylinder 22 and the sideportion 64 of a mailing piece 18 is a defleeting or separating member 66(Figs. 3 and 4) having one end 67 positioned adjacent the discharge sideof the rollers 52 and 53 at a position above a card 18 passing frombetween such rollers. The opposite end 68 of the separating member 66extends within and above the receiving end of the conveyor 31.

Thus, on travel of a mailing piece 18 and corresponding duplicating card27, from between the lower side 20 of the cylinder 22 and the platenunit 23, the duplicating card is guided by the end portion 58 of theretaining member 56 into the receiving end of the conveyor 32. However,the mailing piece 18, by virtue of the location of the side portion 64thereof below the separating member 66, is separated from theduplicating card 27 and directed or guided for reception into thereceiving end of the conveyor 31.

It is apparent, therefore, that the offset side portion 61 of aduplicating card 27 co-acts with the retaining member 56 to support aduplicating card about the cylinder 22, while leaving the carboncarrying side portion 62 of a card 27 exposed, and that the offset sideportion 64 of a mailing piece 18 coacts with the separating member 66 ineffecting a separation of a card 27 from a mailing piece 18 after aprinting operation.

With reference to Figs. 6, 7, and 8 there is diagrammaticallyillustrated a complete cycle in the printing of a mailing piece 18 froma duplicating card 27. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, the air inlets 37 and38 for the cylinder hub 30 and shaft support 33, respectively, are outof registration when the air inlet opening 42 for the cylinder 22 is atthe top side 25 of the cylinder. At such time, a duplicating card 27 isreleased by the trip gate 59 from the conveyor 29 for attachment of theleading end of the card 27 with the cylinder 22 at the air inlet 42.Concurrently, a mailing piece 18 is released by the trip gate 54 fromthe conveyor 21 for travel between the rollers 52 and 53 toward thelower side 20 of the cylinder 22. The relative release of a duplicatingcard 27 and mailing piece 18 from their corresponding conveyors 29 and21,

respectively, is such that as a card 27 and a mailing piece 18 travelbetween the cylinder 22 and the platen member 46, as shown in Fig. 8,the carbon type on a duplicating card 27 is opposite the portion on amailing piece 18 to be printed.

As a duplicating card 27 and corresponding mailing piece 18 leave theprinting zone between the cylinder 22 and platen member 46 the air inletopenings 37 and 38 in the hub 30 and shaft 33, respectively, are movedinto registration as shown in Fig. 8. As a result, the suction effect atthe cylinder air inlet 42 is relieved and the air chamber within thecylinder 22 is by-passed by the travel of air directly through theinlets 37 and 38. The duplicating card 27 is then removed from about thecylinder 22 by the action of the end portion 58 of the retaining member56, and separated from its corresponding mailing piece 18 by the actionof the end portion 68 of the separating member 66 on the mailing piece.On rotation of the air inlet 42 to the top side 25 of the cylinder 22the cycle of operation is repeated.

With reference to Fig. 5 there is diagrammatically illustrated the powertransmission system for the machine of this invention. The printingcylinder 22 at its end 34 has the shaft 36 provided with a gear 72 and apulley 73 which is belt connected with a pulley 74 mounted on the shaftof a driving motor 76. The shaft 36 thus constitutes a main drive orpower shaft.

Also mounted on the shaft 36 is a cam member 77, of an adjustable typerelative to the shaft 36, which is selectively engageable with the freeend 78 of a rocker arm 79 attached to the pivot 81 for the duplicatingcard trip gate 59. The shaft 36 rotates in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 5, so that on engagement of the cam 77 with the rock arm79 the trip gate 59 is pivoted outwardly from the discharge end of theconveyor 29.

The gear 72 is in continuous meshing engagement with a like gear 82mounted on the shaft 44 for the platen unit 23. The gear 72 is also incontinuous meshing engagement with a gear 83 which in turn engages agear 71 mounted on the shaft 84 of the drive roller 86 for the conveyor31. The shaft of the drive roller 87 for the conveyor 32 carries a gear88, which is driven from the gear 71 through an idler gear 89. The shaft90 of the drive roller 91 for the conveyor 29 carries a gear 95 which isdriven from the gear 72 through an idler gear 92.

A sprocket gear 96, on the cylinder shaft 36, is chain connected with asprocket gear 97 mounted on a counter shaft 98. This shaft 98, hasadjustably mounted thereon a cam 101 engageable with one end 102 of anarm 103 pivotally mounted at 104. The opposite end of the arm 103 ispivotally connected at 106 with one end of a link member 107 theopposite end of which is pivotally connected at 108 with a rock arm 109carried on the pivot 111 for the trip gate 54. With the shaft 98rotating in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, it is seen thaton engagement of the cam 101 with the end 102 of the arm 103 the gate 54is pivoted outwardly from the discharge end of the conveyor 21.

The feed rollers 52 and 53 for the mailing piece 18 have gears 112 and113 thereon in continuous meshing engagement, with the gear 112 being incontinuous meshing engagement with an idler gear 114 driven from a gear115 on the counter shaft 98. A gear 116 carried on the shaft 117 of thedrive roller 118 for the conveyor 32 is driven from the idler gear 114throughanother idler gear 119.

It is seen, therefor, that all of the operating elements of the machineare driven from and in a timed relation with the main power shaft 36 forthe printing cylinder 22, and with the cams 77 and 101 for actuating thetrip gates 59 and 54, respectively, being relatively adjustable toprovide for the desired release of the mailing piece 18 and duplicatingcard 27 from their respective conveyors 21 and 29. The vacuum pump 39,for exhausting air from within the cylinder 22, is provided with its owndrive motor 41, as previously described.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited, since changes can be made therein which are within the fullintended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim: e

1. In a machine for printing mailing pieces from duplicating cardscomprising, a rotatable presser cylinder, a rotatable platen memberhaving a portion thereof adapted to contact said cylinder in printingengagement therewith, means movably supporting said platen portion onsaid platen member for yieldable oscillating movement relative to saidplaten member, means for feeding duplieating cards in succession betweensaid cylinder and platen portion, means for feeding mailing pieces insuccession between said cylinder and platen portion, means forrelatively controlling said two feeding means so that a section of amailing card to be printed is opposite a printing section on aduplicating card on passage of a duplicating card and mailing piecebetween said cylinder and platen portion, with the oscillating movementof said platen portion relative to said platen member acting tocompensate for speed variations of adjacent surfaces of said cards.

2. In a machine for printing mailing pieces from duplicating cardscomprising, a rotatable presser cylinder, a platen member arrangedadjacent said presser cylinder, means mounting said platen member forrotation in printing engagement with said cylinder and for slippingmovement relative thereto, means for feeding a duplicating card and amailing piece in contact engagement with each other between saidcylinder and platen member for printing on said mailing piece from saidduplicating card, and with said mounting of the platen member providingfor a slipping thereof during printing on a mailing piece to compensatefor any difference in the relative speeds between said mailing piece andthe duplicating card in engagement therewith to prevent any relativeslipping of said cards.

3. In a machine for printing a mailing card from a duplicating cardcomprising a rotatable presser cylinder, a shaft substantially parallelto said cylinder, a disc member mounted on said shaft for rotationtherewith, a segmental platen member of a diameter correspondingsubstantially to the diameter of said cylinder arranged in a concentricrelation with and supported on the periphery of said disc, an arm membersecured to said platen member and mounted about said shaft to providefor rotational movement of said arm and platen member relative to saiddisc, spring means connected to said platen member and extended inopposite directions therefrom for attachment to said disc to provide ayieldable resistance to the rotation of said arm and platen member,means for mounting one of said cards about said cylinder for rotationtherewith, means for feeding the other one of said cards between saidone card and said platen member, with the mounting of said platen memberproviding for a limited rotation thereof relative to said disc tocompensate for any differences in speed between adjacent faces of saidcards to prevent any relative movement therebetween.

4. In a machine for printing a mailing card from a duplicating cardcomprising a rotatable presser cylinder, a shaft substantially parallelto said cylinder, a disc member mounted on said shaft for rotationtherewith, a platen member movably supported on the periphery of saiddisc, means yieldably holding said platen member for rotation with saiddisc and providing for a limited rotational movement relative thereto,means for releasably mounting one of said cards about said cylinder fortravel therewith, means for feeding the other one of such cards betweensaid one card and said platen mem her, with the yieldable mounting ofsaid platen member providing for a limited rotation thereof relative tosaid disc during travel of said cards therebetween to compensate for anydifferences in speed between adjacent faces of said cards so as toprevent any relative movement between the cards.

5. In a machine for printing mailing pieces from du plicating cardscomprising a rotatable presser cylinder, a rotatable platen memberadapted to contact one side of said cylinder, means for feedingduplicating cards between said cylinder and platen member, means forfeeding mailing pieces between said cylinder and platen member such thata side portion of a mailing piece is laterally offset from acorresponding side portion of a duplicating card, and means engageablewith said one of said offset side portions, after the passage of amailing piece and a duplicating card from between said cylinder andplaten member, to separate a duplicating card from a mailing piece, saidmeans engageable including a retaining member in a concentrically spacedrelation with said cylinder at a position between said one side and anopposite side thereof, and a pair of conveyor means, corresponding toseparated duplicating cards and mailing pieces, for receiving saidduplicating cards and mailing pieces from said separating means.

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